Here’s a great example from a Starbucks video from their site of a simple act that brings joy to people because this crazy guy really does believe that it’s about serving these people. Watch it. Then go live like this Einstein looking fellow.

Genius. That is what I thought when i first saw this ad during the superbowl.

Imported from Detroit

That was, after i sat back down and stopped clapping. I was even wearing my Detroit Lions jersey that day too.

Now, to be fair and open about it, I’m totally biased. I was born in Detroit. I recognized most of the landmarks they show in the commercial. So personally it pulled on my heartstrings to see all of those different spots in the commercial.

As for the layout of the whole thing it starts with a gritty voice, a grammaticality incorrect statement of “I got a question for ya” and proceeds to conjur up images of hell and fire and a city that survives the forge like a tempered piece of glowing metal. Message number one: we survived.

Then it addresses the image the city has thanks to the media. Even making a statement about how much bad press the city gets from writers “who’ve never even been here”. Message number two: you aren’t here, you don’t know.

Then the narrator compares Detroit to other cities like New York, Las Vegas, or even the emerald city from the wizard of oz. Saying Detroit is an American city, “we’re from America” connects to the sense of patriotism that everyone has in their minds. There are 4 different shots in the commercial where you can see american flags waving. It also hits the minds of those who always say that they will only buy an american car. Message number three: we are up there with any other city in the country.

Then, and only then after standing up boldly for the city of Detroit does the commercial shift for it’s second half toward the car a little. Incorporating more of the cities proud landmarks like the fox theater. Then add in the gospel choir to represent the soul and culture the city has, as well as Eminem to show someone who has succeeded coming from a rough part of the city. He also bridges a connection between the old generation spoken of at the beginning of the commercial and the upcoming younger generation that want to see the city prosper. If you have a heart for Detroit, or the American Auto Industry, or even for the midwest in general I have to imagine that you walk away from that two minute mini-documentary of an ad with a sense that Detroit will definitely stand tall once again.

With all the cool things going on in #LoveLansing these days all you have to do is pay attention for 5 minutes and you can find something to do.

I don’t want to influence your thoughts so I won’t list them all here, but I do want to try something fun. I went through the following list and listed what I thought of for all the following words. Now I want you to do the same.

Take this list, copy it into a comment, and then connect each word with the first thing that comes to mind for you.

In case you haven’t been paying attention people have been freaking out all over facebook and twitter about a new Zodiac sign as reported by different blogs, news sites, and articles online. ( for example: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/zodiac-signs-2011-zodiac-sign-wrong/story?id=12609264&page=3 ) So if your birthday falls in one of the groups of dates that changed signs people are saying that their identity is being changed.
So what? What does it change? I dare say it doesn’t change a thing. If you were stubborn before, or carefree or maybe a flirt you will still be that same person today, and tomorrow and maybe even moving forward if you don’t grown into something different over time. If you are a socialite, or a loner, or an odd mix in between that is part of who you are. That isn’t something determined by the stars or when you were born.

If you were someone who took your daily horoscope and tried to make it fit into your day ta-da they were all wrong. all the more reason i feel like they are bullocks. It would seem that a writer/astronomer with the Discovery channel somewhat agrees with me: http://news.discovery.com/space/is-astrology-rubbish.html